Smith unhappy with softball pitching changes

Published 8:27 pm, Sunday, May 29, 2011

Almost a full season into the new era of high school softball, Meridian coach Jamie Smith is still unhappy with the decision to move the pitching rubber back from 40 feet to 43 feet.

And she isn't afraid to make her feelings known.

"You've got kids hitting (home runs) who've never hit them out before; good for them. But I always say (the pitcher) is the one who puts the work in all winter long, and we keep making the rules (work) against them," Smith said recently, noting that scoring in general and home runs in particular are on the rise this season.

"Both of our pitchers are giving up homers, we're hitting homers, and kids who have never hit homers before are hitting them out," she added. " ... Let's quit picking on the poor kid (the pitcher) who works her butt off all winter long, and for once let's (legislate) against the hitter."

The National Federation of State High School Associations last year approved moving the pitching rubber from 40 feet away from home plate to 43 feet. The Michigan High School Athletic Association adopted the change in time for the current softball season, reportedly to increase scoring and to create more balance between defense and offense.

According to longtime Swan Valley coach Tom Kennelly, the move has resulted in the desired effect.

"Forty-three feet makes all the difference in the world. It really does," Kennelly said. "It changes things. You don't see too many (low-scoring) ballgames anymore."

Like Smith, Bay City Western coach Rick Garlinghouse said he has seen a lot more scoring -- and a lot more home runs -- this year than ever before.

"The scores in general are higher throughout the state, for sure. It seems like outs are harder to come by," Garlinghouse said. "More people are putting the ball in play, and strikeouts are down.

" ... I've seen a lot more home runs this year," he added. " ... At Western, we have an eight-foot fence at 215 feet (away from home plate), and we've already had six (homers) hit out this year (at our field). I only saw three in 12 years prior to this year."

Breckenridge coach Mark Gulliver said that not only homers but hits in general are on the rise, as batters get a little more time to see the ball and a little more time to pull pitches.

"I think there are a lot higher batting averages (this year). And I know last year there weren't as many balls hit to leftfield," Gulliver noted. "More balls are being pulled to the left side. The batters are seeing the ball a little longer and hitting it a little harder."

A look at local statistics from the 2010 and 2011 seasons seems to suggest that hitting is indeed up and pitching down -- but not as dramatically as one might think.

In mid-May of 2010, four area players were hitting over .500 and 53 were hitting over .300, compared to six players this month who are hitting over .500 and 63 who are hitting over .300.

Interestingly, more area players (27) were hitting over .400 last year in May than are currently hitting over .400 (17).

On the pitching side, meanwhile, the stats from last May and this May are strikingly similar. While three players had earned run averages under 1.00 and eight players had ERAs under 2.00 a year ago, two players have ERAs under 1.00 and eight have ERAs under 2.00 currently.

Be that as it may, Smith said she is still concerned about balls getting hit harder than ever at her pitchers and infielders.

"You've got (hard line shots) flying at the pitchers. ... You get some of these hitters up there, and you go, 'Wow, this is kind of scary,'" she said following last Tuesday's games vs. Unionville-Sebewaing. "We had two torpedoes hit at my freshman third-baseman today, and I said to her, 'You were scared,' and she said, 'Yeah.'"

"The offense has picked up, and balls are getting hit a little harder. ... I was against the change from the beginning, and I still am," Wentworth said. " ... The MHSAA should be concerned about the safety of the high school game, because that affects (every player on the field)."

For his part, Gulliver said he was initially worried about his players' safety but noted that this season hasn't resulted in any injuries due to harder-hit balls.

"I really haven't seen (a marked danger). I was a little concerned about my corner infielders (at first), but I haven't seen that (they are in danger) this year," Gulliver said.

Garlinghouse said he has worried about his infielders' safety even before the rules change this season, noting that he would like to see a rule passed requiring pitchers, first-basemen, and third-basemen to wear protective facemasks.

"Sometimes, you don't have nine quality players on the team, and you're putting people in there and hoping they can make the play," he said. "Some people just don't have the experience (to protect themselves). The third-baseman's who I worry about the most, especially in bunting situations (where the third-baseman is creeping in close to the batter)."

The coaches also varied in their assessment of how moving the rubber to 43 feet will affect pitching at the lower levels, such as freshman and junior varsity.

Smith said that young pitchers who don't have any movement on their pitches will be at a disadvantage -- and in danger.

"Think of all those kids on the JV who only throw a fastball and a change-up. They're getting (line drives) hit at them left and right," she noted. " ... We've had some hellacious scores (at the JV level this year) -- like 15, 16 runs."

Gulliver, meanwhile, thinks Breckenridge's young pitchers will adapt to the change and that fielders will actually benefit from it.

"As soon as our school season ended last year, we moved our (rubbers) back to 43 feet (to give pitchers time to adjust)," he said. "I think pitchers will just have to put a lot of work in and be strong. I don't think it'll affect them that much.

"And it will help fielders more," he added. "They'll get more action, and it'll make them better ballplayers."

Ultimately, Garlinghouse said, it will only be a matter of time before 43 feet seems like the norm and the 40-foot distance is a thing of the past.

Already, he noted, the players themselves are adjusting nicely.

"I never hear any of the kids -- pitchers or hitters -- say anything about it. They just go out and play," Garlinghouse said. " ... It's going to take three or four years to go full circle, and then pitchers won't even think about it. They'll just think 43 feet is (just another) number."

Meridian senior pitcher Aubrey King said she "didn't really care" about the change, noting that her advice to young pitchers would be to roll with the changes.

"Just kind of go with it. Deal with it," she said. "Don't (dwell) on it, because then you might get (distracted) and just think too much and not be able to pitch."